Page 13 - ELG2307 Jul Issue 485

NEWS

controls at all to establish a private English Since then, the online TESOL language If we compare the standard and level
language school. A similar number of Japanese industry has now nearly returned to its pre- of professional English that international
students were also coming to the Philippines pandemic days with students returning to students will receive in the UK, for example,
into schools run by Japanese. Korean and Philippine shores, and 1000s of Filipinos where government regulations control
Japanese students tended to stay for 1 month – most untrained to be TESOL teachers – education entities and English is taught by
and school fees were around US$4,000, applying for teaching jobs. What is interesting qualified professionals, the biggest concern
including accommodation. is that China and the Philippines do not have in the Philippines is the lack of government
In Cebu, Clark and Manila, very large a cozy political friendship, such as existed pre- regulation and oversight. There are no
online English teaching operations were also pandemic. Filipinos are finding it very hard to national standards for TESOL teachers and
set up by Japanese and Korean businesses. secure school-based jobs in China. However, anyone can open a language school without
Some online entities had over 200 teachers despite China supposedly shutting down online any prior experience or training. This has led
online at any one time, teaching students English teaching, we see a plethora of Chinese to a situation where schools may offer subpar
in other parts of the world. These teachers online English language schools operating instruction and ELLs may not be getting the
had little to no qualifications or experience in the Philippines hiring Filipino teachers to quality education they deserve. Another
in teaching English. Thus, the Philippines work as online English teachers. No TESOL problem is the high turnover rate among
became a de facto location for English qualification is needed, so what we are seeing TESOL teachers.
language teaching. post pandemic is the return to the Wild West The industry generates billions of dollars
of English Language teaching that will suffer in revenue each year and employs hundreds
China and the through no oversight or regulation. of thousands of people; it is a major source of
But the question surely is, “Why do so many
Philippines do not tens of thousands of young ELL learners from foreign exchange for the Philippines. Currently,
moves are afoot to establish the Cebu hub for
have a cozy political all over the world come to the Philippines English language excellence (CHELE), and the
to learn English; particularly from Asian
Philippine hub for English language excellence
friendship, such as countries?” There are a number of factors that (PHELE).
contribute to the Philippines’ success as an
existed pre-pandemic ELL destination; the beautiful English spoken
by Filipinos, the very friendly nature of the Paul Robertson is the
However, the downside was that there was no Filipino population to overseas arrivals, the founder of the Academics
oversight at all on who could teach English in cheaper cost of education and accommodation Education group of research
the Philippines. It was clear that a vast number than other countries. The Philippines is a journals. He is currently
of Filipino English teachers were simply not nation of islands and beautiful sandy beaches working on Second Language
qualified to the level one would see in such that are never far from where one is and large acquisition projects in China.
places as the UK. Then the pandemic shut this luxurious shopping malls in close proximity to
industry down. one’s school.

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editorial@elgazette.com 13